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The Calyx Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

The Calyx

The Calyx Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Located in the Royal Botanic Garden the Calyx is a place of living art, with constantly changing displays. In botany, a calyx is the collective name for sepals of a flower, the usually green part that supports the petals. The Calyx in the Garden is a place where new displays are presented several times a year, making return trips worthwhile and interesting.

The last time we visited the display consisted of carnivorous plants, which was fascinating. We didn’t realise that there was so many varieties. Planted to produce a colourful display from leaves and flowers the green-wall had only recently been finished. Many plants were yet to reach their potential, but we intended to visit at a later date to see the final product. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has intervened and a lockdown means we are unable to travel to Sydney.

A small café located here is a great place to relax after looking at the displays.

Some Carnivorous Plants From Our Last Visit

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Cascade Brewery Tour Hobart

Cascade Brewery

Cascade Brewery Tour Hobart

How to Get There

Only a five-minute drive from Hobart’s CBD in the foothills of Mount Wellington, the Cascade Brewery Tour is a must for lovers of beer and cider.

The Cascade Brewery

Having operated since 1824, the Brewery is Australia’s oldest, and a tour is a history lesson as well as beer making. Originally a sawmill but converted to a brewery because of the mountain water onsite, the building is still in use. The dates on the front of the building refer to the extension made in 1927 when new equipment required more height. This is still visible in the façade, where the material for the lower three floor differs from the upper levels.

In addition to tours, the brewery offers meals and a bar in the old manager’s residence, where you can relax after the tour, or just enjoy a meal or drink.

The Cascade Brewery Tour

Several different tours are available depending on age (16 years old and over can go on the extended factory tour that we did). An all ages tour caters for everyone, but does not enter the factory, nor does it offer beer and cider samples afterwards.

A safety briefing and protective equipment (hard hat, glasses, gloves and hair net and fluoro vest) are given at the start of the tour. This not only ensures your safety, as your are touring a working brewery, but also keeps the beer making process safe from you.

Unfortunately, no photos are allowed on the tour, so the secret of Cascades beer and cider process is still safe.

The comprehensive tour follows the whole process from grain delivery to bottling, packaging and distribution. We found it all very interesting especially the brewing and malting part.

We also found out that all waste products are used either on site or as animal feed. Nice to know that beer is environmentally conscious, as well as tasting great.

There was also a look at cider production, which uses some of the apples Tasmania is famous for.

Finishing the tour is a tasting platter of four beers or ciders. As we had a platter each, we were able to taste all of the beers and ciders on offer.

Beer and Cider Tasting Platter Cascade Brewery Tour
Beer and Cider Tasting Platter

What Did We Think?

This was a fun tour that we really enjoyed. Seeing the whole beer making process and then tasting the product was great fun. If you are in Hobart, it’s worth doing.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Museum of Contemporary Art

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Sitting on the waterfront at Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia provides a venue for international and local artists.

Getting There

In walking distance of Circular Quay, public transport is the easiest way to get here. Ferries, buses, trains and light rail all stop here, making it easy and convenient. Several carparks are located nearby if you want to drive.

The Museum

Near the entrance a metallic sculpture provides some great photo opportunities, because its design allowing unique views of the Opera House.

During our visit one gallery was dedicated to David Malangi Daymirringu’s aboriginal artwork. They follow important sites, ceremonies, and stories that encompass ancestral knowledge connected to the artist’s Manharrngu clan of central Arnhem Land. Some of the photos below show his amazing work.

As expected the remaining art on display ranged from weird and unique to strangely interesting. A fun place to walk around, especially if you want to see what current artist are producing.

A cafeteria on the roof gives great views of Sydney Harbour as well as Circular Quay. We sat here for a while enjoying morning tea and watching the ferries going in and out of the Quay.

What Did We Think?

This was an interesting visit. The highlight was the indigenous artwork on display, which looked amazing. It was nice to see that the museum takes great pride in its support of aboriginal and Torres Strait artists. Open everyday except Mondays.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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